So I always hear there is the 10-15 year rule of thumb as to when the standing rigging of a boat should be replaced. I do agree too, but I have been looking at multiple used boats ranging in age from 5 years old to 25 years old only to find not a single one of them have had their standing rig replaced. Out of maybe 20+ boats I have enquired about within that time frame or much more, not a single one!!!!

Am I missing something here? Is this one of those unexplainable things like why people never clean their boats before showing it or why they leave them with a mess when they take pictures for the For Sale ads?

Sabreman

10-05-2012 11:12 PM

Re: Standing rigging replacement question

Most will tell you that a boat should replace it's standing rigging after 20 years. Key is the environment in which the boat is used - lots of use in salt water may require more frequent replacement. Use in temperature extremes where there are of freeze/thaw cycles will stress swages too. You have to go aloft look at the hardware carefully every year and make a decision. But I think that given the cost of re-rigging a boat, most people don't do it. But 20 year old rigging is not anywhere near a death sentence, IMO. I'll probably get jumped on for saying it, but very few recreational rigs come down from failed fittings under conditions in which most of us sail. Rigs have come down, but there are usually other factors involved. I worry far more about hose failure than rig failure. :)

We have a 1984 boat with original rigging and I have total confidence in the rig. With that said, we'll be replacing ours (finally) next summer. I plan to have the upper ends swaged by a rigger and I'll do the lower ends myself with StaLoc fittings. Easier that way.

dgasmd

10-05-2012 11:24 PM

Re: Standing rigging replacement question

Well, I live in south FL, so it is always hot and salty here!

Sabreman

10-05-2012 11:41 PM

Re: Standing rigging replacement question

Eye the fittings carefully. Some will use chalk (the stuff that's used to snap chalk lines) to see if there are cracks in the swages. Lower swages are more likely to fail than upper fittings. In the other hand, upper fittings are inspected far less regularly.

RobGallagher

10-06-2012 12:40 AM

Re: Standing rigging replacement question

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabreman
(Post 930141)

Most will tell you that a boat should replace it's standing rigging after 20 years. Key is the environment in which the boat is used - lots of use in salt water may require more frequent replacement. Use in temperature extremes where there are of freeze/thaw cycles will stress swages too. You have to go aloft look at the hardware carefully every year and make a decision. But I think that given the cost of re-rigging a boat, most people don't do it. But 20 year old rigging is not anywhere near a death sentence, IMO. I'll probably get jumped on for saying it, but very few recreational rigs come down from failed fittings under conditions in which most of us sail. Rigs have come down, but there are usually other factors involved. I worry far more about hose failure than rig failure. :)

We have a 1984 boat with original rigging and I have total confidence in the rig. With that said, we'll be replacing ours (finally) next summer. I plan to have the upper ends swaged by a rigger and I'll do the lower ends myself with StaLoc fittings. Easier that way.

Just wondering, why not staloc on uppers and lowers?

Sabreman

10-06-2012 10:59 AM

Standing rigging replacement question

A neighbor used this approach and it seems like a quicker way to get the job done. It may also be a bit cheaper because swaged fittings are cheaper, I think. I have the dimensions and plan to order the stays a foot longer than necessary, cutting and applying the lower fittings myself. This way, I avoid going aloft to successively remove and Install each stay.

CalypsoP35

10-06-2012 11:17 AM

Re: Standing rigging replacement question

I just replaced my standing rigging last winter on my 1980 Pearson P-35 that has spent its entire life in the Northeast. It was the original rigging! We inspected it every year, it never occured to me that it was the original rigging until after we decided to replace it. I've had the boat for 10 years.

We used Rigging Only. Brought our old rigging to them and they replicated it. It was surprisingly easy. If you search the forum (or google them and you will find their website) you will find other comments on them and other riggers.

Sabreman

10-06-2012 11:50 AM

Standing rigging replacement question

Rigging Only is great. I used them when we replaced our lifelines 2 years ago. They were original too.